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Draper Lake Camping/fishing

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Date/Time: 04/28/2024 03:34PM

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Draper Lake Camping/fishing

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
cburton103	01/28/2023 05:23AM timf1981: "Do you have any updated fishing reports about Draper Lake or the lakes on the rout back up to Pickerel? I read your comments on Draper from 2014 I am looking for some topwater bass fishing" We fished Draper on a full-day day trip from a base camp on Walter. The portage hadn’t been cleared yet, and had some young trees down across it. Some muddy spots, but it felt overall like a classic Quetico portage. It was a very windy day, and we struggled with the fishing. We had good luck for good size smallies and large pike in the area between the islands. Overall, we had better luck fishing on Lonely and Walter except for size of pike. We caught three 35-37” pike on our Draper day trip. We didn’t check out the campsite - too much paddling into the wind since we weren’t staying there anyway.
PineKnot	01/27/2023 02:02PM Can't go wrong for topwater smallies on Draper, Sturgeon Narrows, and Antoine.....hit those three areas on a single trip and you'll have a blast!! I'd rate those two lakes and the SN as 10 of 10 for trophy smallies.....
timf1981	01/27/2023 06:32AM Do you have any updated fishing reports about Draper Lake or the lakes on the rout back up to Pickerel? I read your comments on Draper from 2014 I am looking for some topwater bass fishing
PineKnot	04/18/2014 06:00PM Stay away from Draper. It's mostly filled with smallies of various sizes...the big ones get attacked by even bigger berserk pike that maul them before they get to the canoe....
Ho Ho	04/13/2014 10:45PM Good thread. After many trips in the southern half of Quetico, we're thinking of a north-side trip. Maybe we will have to head to Draper (a lake I never noticed before). I enjoyed your report QP. You can't really be giving up Quetico of the mere ocean, can you?
arctic	04/13/2014 09:12PM Enjoy! There is nothing that tops canoe tripping with kids.
Murray McMurray	04/13/2014 08:56AM Thanks to all for the reports on Draper Lake. QP....a special thanks to you for sharing your journal/story of your experience with your son on Draper. I too go accompanied with a special child, my daughter. She is grown now and 26 years of age but still wants to take a week away from her boyfriend and job to a very special place for both of us. To have one week, seven days, with her all to myself in the Quetico is the epitome of happiness. Thanks again to all and cherish the time.
QPassage	04/11/2014 11:59AM Hard to say. The tarpon fishing in Costa Rica twice a year eats all my vacation time. I'm actually considering a BW trip this Fall. Still not sure. Giving up catching 200 pound fish it hard to do.
old_salt	04/11/2014 11:09AM After rereading your story, qp, I gotta ask, Are you coming back?
QPassage	04/10/2014 08:56PM Draper qp
old_salt	04/09/2014 11:17PM quote thinblueline: "The problem with Draper is that it's one way in, and one way out, and the portage, from what I remember from many years ago, isn't a walk in the park. Plus, as was already mentioned, I believe there is only one campsite. This all means that to go into Draper with the idea of camping, is somewhat of a gamble, because you're going to do this somewhat difficult portage, paddle all the way across the lake, and if you find somebody camped there...well guess what, you get to paddle back across the lake and do the portage again the same day. " That is why we camped on Walter and daytripped. We didn't want to lug everything in. The 'campsite' is pretty rough and has only one or two marginal pads. Nice for lunch stop.
thinblueline	04/09/2014 09:47PM I should add, however, if you do go into Draper, you could very well have the opportunity to experience some smallmouth fishing you will remember forever, if you hit it right ;)
thinblueline	04/09/2014 09:43PM The problem with Draper is that it's one way in, and one way out, and the portage, from what I remember from many years ago, isn't a walk in the park. Plus, as was already mentioned, I believe there is only one campsite. This all means that to go into Draper with the idea of camping, is somewhat of a gamble, because you're going to do this somewhat difficult portage, paddle all the way across the lake, and if you find somebody camped there...well guess what, you get to paddle back across the lake and do the portage again the same day.
old_salt	04/07/2014 08:57PM QP started a message jar at the only known campsite on Draper several years ago. You may want to contact him for more info. I've been there a few times and can tell you that it has good smallie and northern fishing. It is rumored to have Lakers and has deep water, but I've never found them. I have camped on Walter.
OldGreyGoose	04/07/2014 03:50PM MM: I have heard that Draper Lake was past Quetico Park Ranger Shirley Peruniak's favorite lake. There is supposed to be a very good campsite on the westernmost of the two large islands. (Possibly a message-jar site?) --Goose
Murray McMurray	04/07/2014 12:41PM Planning my annual trip with my daughter and would be going through Walter and Lonely Lakes. I would like to camp on Draper if there is any kind of a site there. It doesn't have to be anything fancy but for one night a place to setup. Does anyone have information on this. Also...I have heard the fishing is quite good there. Any opinions or help there? Thank you.